Poker players need cool heads, or they risk getting tilted and blowing their bankroll to smithereens by chasing losses rather than acting strategically. To avoid this scenario, some people step away from the table altogether and might do some sports, meditation or other activities. Others switch up the game, moving over to blackjack for a session designed to steady the nerves.
The question of whether this second option is savvy or financially risky is worth looking into, so here’s an overview of playing blackjack and whether it can work as a cool down method or not.
Can Blackjack Prevent Burnout
The main reason that blackjack can be seen as an opportunity to cool down after a high-intensity poker experience is that it’s possible to play it ‘perfectly’. Meaning, as long as you’ve got a firm fix on basic strategy and you stick to it, you can play hand after hand of blackjack and only have to contend with the house edge of roughly 0.5%.
The upshot is that you’ll be preserving your bankroll for the most part as long as you play low stakes compared to your bankroll, and if you get a few favorable hands in a row, you might even end up ahead at the end of a few shoes. Better yet, if you’re playing online on Impressario Casino, there are lots of versions of the game to choose from. So if you prefer European blackjack over American blackjack, you can pick the version that suits your play style and experience. With deposit bonuses, this activity can actually be break-even or even have a positive expected value.
But, keeping it as as a recreational activity might not prove too easy. Let’s look at the possible pitfalls:
How Bankroll Management Comes Into It
While using perfect basic strategy gives you the best chance of keeping your head above water when playing blackjack, it’s still a game that can bring emotions bubbling to the surface. So if you’re choosing to get stuck into a session as a tilt-breaker, bankroll management is more important than ever.
Put simply, having a cap on how much you’re willing to lose during a blackjack session, or any kind of casino game context for that matter, lets you avoid burning your entire bankroll. Allocate a maximum of 5% or less to this cool down session, and the damage is automatically limited. Combined with a time limit of perhaps 30 minutes maximum, this approach could serve its purpose without stretching your finances further.
The ROI Question
The return on investment of cool down blackjack sessions isn’t necessarily quantifiable in raw figures, aside from knowing the house edge that applies when using perfect basic strategy. What you need to do is think of this strategy as a way of resetting your mental state after getting tilted by another game, whether that’s poker, baccarat, or slots.
Some people will find that this works for them, creating breathing room and easing the pressure. Others will only get more tilted, because, as a game of chance, blackjack can go against you just as brutally as poker. That makes the ROI unique to you. Some high stakes professionals play some formats of gambling games with negative expected value, while others don’t wont touch them under any circumstances.
The Last Word
It’s certainly possible to pivot to blackjack sessions as a way of climbing down from being tilted. However, it won’t suit every player, and only a combination of bankroll management and discipline will serve you well if you do go ahead with this strategy. You should always stick to responsible gambling, and seek help if these gambling games become an obsession instead of recreation.
